CADRE: the Central Aspergillus Data REpository

CADRE is a public resource for housing and analysing genomic data extracted from species of Aspergillus. It arose to enable maintenance of the complete annotated genomic sequence of Aspergillus fumigatus and to provide tools for searching, analysing and visualizing features of fungal genomes. By implementing CADRE using Ensembl, a framework is in place for storing and comparing several genomes: the resource will thus expand by including other Aspergillus genomes (such as Aspergillus nidulans) as they become available. CADRE is accessible at http://www.cadre. man.ac.uk.

Preceptor program evaluation demonstrates improved orientation

Although the preceptor method of orientation is generally accepted as an effective mechanism for orienting newly employed nurses, very few evaluation studies of preceptor programs have been reported in the literature. This article describes a study designed prior to implementing a preceptor program at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics in order to measure the outcomes of the program. Data were collected on the satisfaction of orientees, preceptors, other staff nurses, and nurse managers. The preceptor role and preceptor's level of comfort and skill were studied. To quantify the economic impact, both length of orientation and nursing turnover were considered.

Cytological abnormalities of the cervix. Fifteen years' follow-up of a gynaecological cancer survey

In a gynaecological cancer survey of 1026 women aged 21 years and over in May 1967, 74 women were found to have cervical cytological changes (designated as mild atypia in 71), which were followed to April 1982. No case of cervical cancer was found (0.3 were expected on the basis of population rates). Six women had had hysterectomies (6.2 were expected on the basis of rates of hysterectomy in the region of the survey). Reports on cervical smears taken since January 1, 1980, were available for 46 (75%) of 61 women who were alive and had not had a hysterectomy. Of these, 11 showed mild atypia; the remainder were within normal limits.

Changes in the milk composition of nonpuerperal women

Studies were undertaken to determine the effect of expressing small volumes of breast fluid (less than 3.0 ml) on the progressive changes in concentrations of lactose, proteins, and electrolytes in the mammary secretions of four nonpuerperal women with galactorrhea and two nonpuerperal women who artificially induced lactation by breast hyperstimulation. The changes in the concentration of the milk constituents in the mammary secretion of these women are compared to the levels in colostrum, transitional and mature milk obtained from normal lactationg women. In one woman galactorrhea was associated with hypothyroidism and abnormally elevated blood levels of prolactin and thyroid-stimulating hormone. The breast secretion contained lactose, protein, and alpha-lactalbumin at colostrum-like levels over the entire 53 days of sampling. In two women with galactorrhea and amenorrhea associated with a pituitary tumor and hyperprolactinemia, a colostrum-like secretion was expressed on the first day of sampling but with daily sampling during a period of a month the composition approached that of normal milk. Similar results were obtained in another woman with galactorrhea, which appeared to be induced by a psychotropic drug (haloperidol), when she expressed breast fluid at 2-day intervals over a period of a month. In a second series of samples collected from this woman at intervals of 5 days or more over a period of a month, the concentration of lactose and proteins remained at colostrum levels. The composition of the breast secretion produced by two women who induced lactation artificially by breast hyperstimulation was close to the composition obtained for women during established lactation following normal pregnancy. These findings are discussed in relation to breast function and endocrine disorders.